Monday, January 09, 2017

TAMPA, Fla. (BP) -- Six seasons as chaplain of the University of Alabama football team give pastor Bruce Chesser a unique perspective on the Jan. 9 College Football Playoff title game between Alabama and Clemson University.

The uniqueness, however, isn't the strength of his allegiance to the Crimson Tide -- though his office does feature a sign that reads "Jesus bled crimson." What's unique for Chesser, pastor of First Baptist Church in Hendersonville, Tenn., is the way he thinks about the players on both sidelines. Read More

WASHINGTON (BP) -- Another Southern Baptist has stepped up to provide leadership for the Congressional Prayer Caucus.

Rep. Mark Walker, R.-N.C., will be the new House of Representatives co-chairman of the caucus, it was announced today (Jan. 9). Sen. James Lankford, R.-Okla., the other co-chairman of the prayer caucus, and former Rep. Randy Forbes, R.-Va., made the announcement. All three are members of Southern Baptist churches.

Forbes, a seven-term congressman, founded the caucus in 2005 to help protect ... Read More

Both laws took effect as soon as Bevin's signature was applied. Lawmakers held a rare session on Saturday to give final passage to a series of high-priority bills, including two that would curb abortions.

The late-term abortion law bans the procedures after 20 weeks of pregnancy, ... Read More

NASHVILE (BP) -- LifeWay Christian Resources has announced the promotion of Carol Pipes as the ministry's new director of corporate communications. Pipes will replace Southern Baptist Convention veteran communicator Marty King who will retire in February.

LifeWay Executive Vice President Brad Waggoner made the announcement saying Pipes "brings nearly 20 years of communications expertise and experience, as well as a strong commitment to LifeWay's mission and purpose." Read More

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (BP) -- The Colorado Baptist General Convention (CBGC) is receiving applications for a new executive director to replace Mark Edlund, retiring in July after 15 years of service.

The executive director would serve a unified and healthy convention of 391 churches and church plants in one of the fastest growing states in the nation, said CBGC President Mike Routt, citing Edlund's tenure.

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